Washing machine



' A. J. FlsHER WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet l A. J. FISHER WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1921. 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mzm g A; FISHER WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1921. 4 Sheets' -Shea'i; 4,

1 time t Paten ted Jan. 27,1925. 1

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVA J. FISHER, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO HURLEY MACHINE COM- PANYJOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF- ILLINOIS.

/ wAsHme MACHINE.

I Application filed October 7, 1921. Serial No. 505,977.

To all whom it md l concern:

Be it known that I, ALVA J. FISHER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at- Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to laundry washing machines and more particularly to the.

rotating drum or container for tumbling or agitating the laundry, and the main object of the mvention is to construct the'drum or container of metal 'stamp ingsand parts which are quickly and easilyassembled and manufactured, while at the same cheapl lie drum combines and embodies the advantages of light weight, great strength, simplicity, maximum 'efliciency, minimum wear and tear on thelaundry, avoidance or prevention of warping, distortion, rust or corrosion of the parts and ease of repair.

With the above and incidental objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements whereof are recited the appended claims and a preferred form ofembodiment of which is described indetail hereafter and illustrated in full in the accompanying drawings which form part of "this specification.

Of said drawings, Figure l-is a sectional view taken through a washing'machine, the section being taken near the right hand end of the machine to show the rotating drum,

embodying the present invention, in end elevation; F1g..2 1s a cross-section through the'drum,.s'hownin Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are detailedseetions taken onlines 3-3 and 47- 1, respectively, of'Fig. 1; Figs 5 isa longitudinal section through the drum, as

on the line 55 of Fig. 2 and with the middle portion of the drumbroken away;

Fig. 6 shows fullsized Sections,'taken on the same longitudinal line, through opposite end portions of a wall section and the adjacent end portions of the heads of the drum;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through a portion of the door or. cover and the parts in proximity with its rear edge, the section being taken as on the line 77 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the forward portion of a side plate ofthe door or cover; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 s9 of Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1)-10 ofFig. 7 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of of the general type illustrated in my a fragment of one of the heads, and Fig. 12 1s, a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawin s, the washing receptacle or tub I is pre erably copendin application, Serial No. 338,511, filed Novem er 17, 1919 and comprises two metal end frames 2 and a tub consisting of a cylindrical sheet metal wall 3, ends 4, and a door or cover 5, hinged at 6 and provided with a handle 7 near its front edge to facili tate the opening and closing of the cover. The laundry tumbling or agitating drum 8, embodying the present invention, is rotated in the tub about trunnions 9- and 10 (Fig' I 5) by an electric motor 16 through suitable gearing, not shown. The trunnion 9 proing 12 on the plate 13 fastened to the adjacent end of the drum and .is held therein by a slide 15 (Fig. 1) which is operated by a lever 14 to permit removal of the drum from the tub, as is well understood in the art. t b

Thedrum 8 comprises ends or heads 17, baflies or agitators18, a-plurality of curved sections 19 forming the cylindrical shell or Wall, and a cover or door 20.. The ends or heads 17 are formed of sheet metal discs stamped by dies to give them the required shape or contour.- Stamped centrally in each head 17 is a five-point star 21 having a circular center portion 22 with the points of the star forming radiating ribs, the star depressions being formed to add rigidity and strength to the heads. The. inner sides of the lates 11 and 13, which are riveted or otherwlse fastened to the heads, conform to these depressions. Adjacent the periphery of each head is formed an annular rib 23 (Fig. 6) forming a circular groove-24 openin inwardly, and. an overhanging'flange 25.,

he four sections 19, forming the cylindricalwall'of the drum or cylinder are alike in constructlon and each is formed from a blank of sheet metal, being given the desired shape by means of suitable dies.

These curved sections 19 and the heads 17 are preferably formed of the same thin sheet metal, which possesses considerable strength while at the same time it has rust;

proof and non-corrosive characteristics. The transverse edge portions of the sections are curved outwardly and. then towards each other to form curved edges and over- I and the outer walls 28 of the formed by the union ofthe sections 19 with the heads 17 and-contiguous with the lme of contact of the sections with the heads. This feature, the principle of which is followed '-at' various places throughout the drum is a very important one, its purpose being to prevent pieces of laundry, and particularly garments or fabrics of delicate or fine texture, such as laces and silks, from becoming fastened, caught or cut on sharp edges or between the contacting surfaces or edgesof the sections and heads and consequently torn or damaged. In the present invention the line of contact between any two surfaces or parts,-such. as that between the sections and a head do not contact with the laundry because the narrow channels, adjacent the; line of contact, such as the channels 29, keep or space the laundry away fromthe same.

The bafiles or agitating plates l 8 are preferably formed of some light but strong and rigid metal, "such as an aluminum alloy which is anon-rusting and non-corrosive.

The battles are corrugated or ribbed length Wise, as shown in Fi added strength. The ends of the 'baflies are of uniform thickness (transversely of the baflies) andthe corrugated port1ons merge therewith to avoid sharp corners. These,

ends of the bafliesareseated in equi-spaced depressions 31 (Figs. 2, 7 and 12) which are formed in the heads 1.7. These depressions have the same depth as andnierge with the grooves 24 and are Iwidened or flared at their outer or merging ends to accommodate the ends of the, grooved edge portions of the sections 19, it being understood that the turned traverse end portions of the sections terminate short of the ved edge por tion, as indicated at 32 (F ig. 7). Theside walls of the depressions are inclined to pm vide thechannels or grooves 33 which prevent the laundry from probably getting fastened between'the contacting edges of the cbaflles and heads, as explained "above.

- The inner longitudinal edge of each baflle plate is provided withan integral bead 34,

gs. 2 and 7, to give them sections 19 in assembled condition.

nuts 48on the screws for the bafiie lates length substantially semi-cylindrical in cross-section,- and'a corresponding head 35 is provided on the outer edge, but each bead 35 is further provided with a led or projecting rib 38 extending the lengtdi of the 'bnfiic plate. The baflle plates at the front and rear edges of the door or cover opening are otherbaflie lates, the ribs 38 of the former being provi ed with a single over-hanging flange 39 while the ribs 38 on the other bafilc plates are T-shaped in section, thus )rovidmg two flanges 39. The 'longitudina edges of the sections 19 roject into the grooves 37 formed bythe, anges 39' and the beads 35, the curved marginal portions 28 of the sections being in contactwith "the complemental, cylindrically-curved surfaces 41 of the beads. Channels 42 are provided between the beads and the portions 28 adjacent the line of contact to prevent any laundry from being caught or pinched or out as explained above. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the flanges 25 of the'he'ads fit in recesses or cut-away portions 36 in the ends of theribs or led 38.

The en s of the baflies 18 are equipped with boses 44 provided with screw thr ed openings into which headless screws 45 are screwe (Figs. 3, 4, 5,- 9 and 10). As shown m Fig. 9 one side of each screw is flattened and after the screw has been placed in the opening the side of the boss 44 opposite the flattened'sidle of the screw is alsoflattened in any desired manner so that it will itively prevent the screw from working lifse or being withdrawn from the boss. The

screws project through a rtures in the basesof the depressions 31 in the heads and theirprojecting ends carry washers 47 and nuts48, the screws, nuts, and washers being the only devices employed for fastening the heads securely to the baflle plates and holding the baflie plates, the heads and the v i ailll adj acent the door opening are provide with integral sleeves or bosses50 for purposes to be 'described later, it being understood that the other nuts 48 are not provided with these bosses. I

The main panel of the door or cover 20 is formed of the same kind of sheet metal as the sections 19 and is curved on the same radius to complete the cylindrical form of the drum. Itis approximately of the same width (from front to rear) as eachof the sections 19, but is somewhat shorter in (from side to side) as shown in Fig. 5. The front edge of the door is rolled outwardly \about the stiffening rod 53 (Fig. 2) which is as long as the main panel and the rear edge of the main panel is bent inwardly to form a flange 54 havin a cylindrical ortion contacting with the ibrward semi-cylinconstructed slightly differently than the of the drum tightlv before the machine is drical portion 55 of the bead 35 of the adjacent b'afile plate (Fig. 7). .Riveted or otherwise secured to the transverse edges ofv the main panel of the door are plates 55 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7), preferably thicker than the main panel in order to give added strength and rigidity to the door and to serve as pivot or hinge plates, The portions of the flanges 25 (Fig. 11) on theheads within the door opening are rolled into the grooves 24 to form smooth edges and the plates 55 are provided with grooves 56 which fit over these rolled edge portions of the heads whenthe' door is closed.

The sleeves or bosses 50 (Fig. 10) of the nuts 48 on the outer screws in the baflle plate depressions in which are secured metal discs 58 (Fig. 8) the discs and plates being provided with cut-away portions forming shoulders 59 with which noses or projections.

60 on latches 61 engage to lock the door inclosed position (Figs. 1 and 3). The latches 61 are pivoted on the bosses 50 of. the inner nuts 48 carried by the screws on the baflle plate at the front edge of the door and the bosses on the outer nuts project through slots 63 in the latches, which have finger pieces 64 to facilitate their manipulation. Springs 67 at one end are coiled about the bosses on the outer nuts and the opposite ends of the springs after passing under the bosses on the inner nuts press against flanges 65 to force the latches into latching position. lghen the door is closed the curved edges of t e inclined edges 66 on the latches to force the latches forwardly until the shoulders 59 and 60 are in registry when the springs move the latches intolatching position, it therefore being unnecessary for the operator to touch the latches while the dooris being closed.

' Mounted on the bosses 50 ofthe nuts on the baflle plate at the rear edge of the door are springs 68 having projectingbent portions 69 which contact with the rear edges 7 O of the flanges 56 of the plates, 55. The

of the openings through the nuts 48 filled latches are operated to release the door, they.

springs 68 are so tensioned thatfwhen the move the door to the partially openedposition shown in dash lines in Fig. 7. The door 20 may then be raised or fully opened by hand to the position represented by the dot-dash lines in Fig. 7: This is a very important feature of the invention as it requires or warns the operator to close the door operated. One serious obiection to washing -machines now on the marketis that the door may be closed butnot always latched and when this condition exists and the machine plates 55 under the shoulder 59 engage is operated the laundry falls out through the the drum and tub and the drum and tub may opening and is torn and mutilated between be injured. With the present construction the operator may close the door and think that it is latched, but on removing her hand the door, ifnot actually latched, will spring partially open, giving full warning that it was not latched in closed position.

It will be noted that when the, door is closed the rear edge of its flange 54 is flush or contacts with the flat surface of the baflle plate immediately under or contiguous to the curved portion 55 of the bead, this close fit being very desirable to avoid threads of the laundry from being caught orfastened between the flange and the battle plate. The cylindrical surface ofthe flange 54 is also in contact with .the cylindrical surface 55 while the door is being closed for the same purpose. When the door is fully opened it may, if desired, be resiliently retained in such position by the engagement of'its flange 54 against the top edge of the'rib 38 of the baffle plate, the

yielding character of the flange 54 being availed of to accomplish this result.

The main panel of the door and the sections 19are provided with numerousapertures 70 (Figs. 5 and 6) which are preferably arranged in parallel longitudinal and transverse" rows. The function of these holes or apertures as is well known in the art, is to permit circulation of the air and water. The metal around the holes is pressed or stamped outwardly to form frusto-coni'cal depressions 71 with the holesat the apexes and the metal at the-bases of the depressions is stamped inwardly to form annular ribs 72. The metal at the edge of each hole is rolled outwardly back upon itself to form a smooth continuous rounded edge about the hole. This construction, while simple embodies very important advantages. The integral rolled edges present smooth rounded surfaces bounding the holes and free from the cracks, corners, or sharp edges within the holes and on the inside of the drum and therefore cannot cut or catch the laundry.

In Fig. 10 I have shown the outer ends with solder or other soft metal 74, all of the nuts being preferably treated in this way to prevent them from workingloose. It is obvious however that this soft metal does not prevent the nuts from being readily removed by a wrench when it is desired to disassemble .the drum or remove a part thereof. I v

From the above description it will be .apparent that itsjdrum is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, the only fastening devices being the screws 45 and the nuts 48, as the sections 19 are held-in position ba-fiie plates. The heads and sections 19 areby reason of the engagement of their transverse and longitudinal edges in the grooves 24 in the heads and the grooves 37 in the formed of very thin sheet metal and, therefore, have a somewhat resilient character so that when the parts are assembled the curved or rounded transverse edge portions of the sections fit tightly and firmly in the grooves 23 and the curved marginal portions 28 are firmly pressed against the complemental curved portions 41 of the beads on i the baflle plates. This affords a very simple be easily packed and cheaply transported in a knock-down condition and then quickand yet very rigid 'drum construction which prevents any torsional or twisting movement of the drum, that is to say, any relative movement between the heads, it being important to prevent such-torsional movement as the drum is driven from only one head or end. At the same time the drum has no parts which can become warped or distorted,

and laundry of the finest texture or character is prevented from being caught or fastened between the parts by virtue of the narrow channels or grooves formed adja cent the lines of contact of the parts.- The edges around the holes 71 are smooth and rounded, presenting no crack or'sharp edge which might catch or cut the laundry and the metal around the holes is stamped or formed so as to increase the efficiency of the drum. Should a part of the drum become damaged it may be readily repaired or replaced by a new part, as the drum is easily and very quickly disassembled and assembled, it being merely necessary to remove 'and'then replace the nuts 48. It is apparent that as the wall sections and heads are made from sheet metal stamped by dies and that as the parts are merely fastened together-by a few screws and nuts the cost of manufacture is very low and the parts may 1y assembled attheir destination.

The door or'closure structurev of the rotating cylinder forms the subject-matter of the claims of divisional application Serial No. 614,077 filed January 22, 1923, and the novel construction or formation of the metal around the vent'h oles 70 in the cylinder walls comprises thesubject-matter of the claims of divisional application Serial No.

666,966, filed October 6,1923.

What I claim is: t

1. A drum for washing machines comprising sheet metal heads having their peripheral portions bent to provide lnwar'dly 0 ening grooves, a lurality of metal sections forming the wal between the heads the ends of the sections being adapted to seat in the grooves, and means connecting the heads and sections together and affording quick assem-v bly and disassembly thereof.

2. A drum for washing machines comprising metal heads having inwardly openmg grooves, metal sections forming the wall between the heads and having their ends positioned in said grooves, metal bafiles between sa1d sections, and means for connecting the heads, sections and bafiies together. 3. A drum for washing machines comprising heads ea'ch having an inwardly opening annular groove, curved sections having their ends seated in said grooves and forming the circular wall of said drum, baflies between saidv sections, and means for attaching theheads directly to said bafiles and thereby holding the heads, sections and baflles together.

grooves, a. lurality of metal sections forming the wal and having their ends turned outwardly and seated in said moves and forming narrow channels with t e heads adjacent the lines of contact, and devices connecting the heads and sections together and affording quick assembly and disassembly thereof.

6. A drum for washing machines comprising metal heads having inwardly opening annular grooves, a plurality of curved metal sections formin' the circular wall, the ends of the'sections ing-turned outwardly and seated in said grooves, baflles between the heads, and means fastening the heads directly to the bafiles to connect the heads, sections, and baflles together.

7. A drum for washing machines comprising metal he'ads having inwardly opening annular grooves, a luralit of curved metal sections forming t e circu ar wall, the ends of the sections being turned outwardly and seated in said' grooves and forming narrow channels with the heads adjacent the lines of contact.

8 In a drum for washing machines, the combination of a plurality of sections forming the wall, and bafiles between the sections and having grooves in which the edges of the sections are located.

9. In a drum ior washing machines, the combination of a plurality of metal sections forming the wall, and metal 'baflles having grooves on opposite sides near their outer edges in which the edges of the sections are located and which form narrow channels between the battles and sections adjacent the lines of contact. I r

10. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of a plurality of metal sections forming the wall and having curved edge portions, and baffles having curved portions complemental to and contacting with the curved edge portions of the sections.

drum for washing machines, the

- combination of a metal wall having a longitudinal curved edge portion, and a metal baflle having a curved portion complemental to and contacting with said curved edge portion, the baflie and said curved edge portion of the wall providing a narrow channel adjacent the contacting surfaces thereof.

13. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of heads, a plurality of sections .formin'g thewall, baflies betweenthe sections and having grooves in which the edges of the sections are located, and means fastening the heads directly to the baflies to hold the heads, sections and baifles together. 14. In" a'drnm for washing machines, .the

combination ofheads, aplurality of sections forming the circular wall and curved adjacent their longitudinal edges, baflles having grooves-curved on one side complemental to the curved portions of the sections which are located in the grooves, and means for -fas-. tening the heads to the baflles and afiording quick assembly and sectionsand baflles. 15. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of heads having gr'ooves,a plurality of sections forming the wall, and strips between the sections and having grooves, the edges of thesectlons being located in said. grooves. in the heads and strips.

16. 'In' a drum for washing machines, the combination of heads having grooves, a plurality of sections forming "the wall, and strips between the sections and having grooves, the edges of the sections being located in said grooves in the headsfand strips and forming narrow channels with the heads and strips adjacent the lines of con tact. I

17. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of heads having grooves, a plurality of sections forming the wall, baflies between the sections and having grooves, and

11. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of a metaliwall having a longitudinal curved. edge portion, and a metal strip having a curved portion complemental to and contacting with said curved edge portion.

disassembly of the heads,

rality of metal sections having their ends turned outwardly and ositioned in said grooves, strips between the sections and havmg grooves in'which the longitudinal edges of the sections are located, and detachable means for securing the heads to the strips to afi'ord quick assembly and disassembly of the drum the sections being, held in position by engagement of theiredges in the grooves in the heads and strips. 20. In a drum for washing machines the combination of heads having grooves, a plurality of metal sections having their ends turned and seated in said grooves and having their'longitndinal edge portions'cnr'ved, and

strips having curved portions complemental to and contacting with said edge portions.

21. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of heads havinggrooves, a plurality of metal sections having their ends turned and seated in said grooves and having 6 their longitudinal edge portions curved,

baffles. between the sections and having grooves with one side curved complemental to and contacting with said curved edge portions, and detachable means for securing the hear'ls to the battles and thereby afl'ord quick assembly and disassembly of the drum.

22. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of metal heads having spaced depressions, a plurality of sections forming the wall, metal baflles having their ends seated in said depressions, and means for connecting the heads, sections and baflles togethef. v

23. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of metal heads having spaced eplressions provided i with inclined sides,

ae plates having them ends in contact with d the bases of said depressions and which form narrow channels with the sides of the depressions.

-24. Ina

- drum for washing machines, the I combination of heads, each having a groove and spaced depressions,a plurality of sections fbrmin the wall and having their ends seated in sald. grooves, bafiies between the sections andhavingtheir ends seated in said depressions, and. means fastening the heads to the bjaflies v25. In a d for washing machines, the

combination of, heads, each having a groove and spaced depressions, a. pluralit of sections forming the wall and'having t leir ends seated in said grooves, bafiies having their ends seated in said depressions and provided with grooves in which'the edges of the sections are located, and detachable means for fastening the heads to the bafiles and thereby afl'ord quick assembly and disassembly of the heads, sections and baflles.

26. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of metal heads, each having a groove and spaced depressions, a plurality of.

ing its ends seated in' said grooves and pro-' viding a door opening the portionsof the flanges within said opening being rolled into the grooves.

28. In a drum for washin machines, the combination of heads, metal lbaflles provided with longitudinal corrugations and having ends of uniform width, with the ends of the corrugations merging with the sides of the ends to avoid sharp or rough corners, and

means for securing the ends of the bafiles to the said heads. a

29. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of metal heads, metal baflies provided with longitudinal corrugations and having grooves on opposite sides adjacent one edge, and sections forming the wall and having their ends projecting into said grooves, and means for securing the parts together.

30. In "a drum-for washing machines the combination ofmetal heads, metal baflles between the sections and having screw threaded openings in their ends, screws in said openings and projectin through the heads, each screw having a attened' side engaging a flattened side of the opening to prevent the screw from turning, and nuts on theprojecting ends of said screws.

31. In a drum for washing machines the combination of metal heads, metal bafiles between the sections and having screw threaded openings in their ends, screws in said openings and projecting through the heads, each screw havin a flattened side engaging a flattened si e of the opening to prevent the screw from turning, nuts on the projecting ends of said screws and providing depressions in the nuts by having the screws project only partly therethrough, and solder 111 said depressions to prevent accidental turning of the nuts but permitting intentional detachment thereof.

- ALVA J. FISHER. 

